Biography of Gustav Klimt -

Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6,
1918) was an Austria|Austrian Symbolist
painters|Symbolist painter and one of the most
prominent members of Vienna Art Nouveau (Vienna
Secession) movement.

==Life and art==


Gustav Klimt was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna,
Austria. He was educated at the Vienna
Kunstgewerbe Art School in the years 1879-1883.
Klimt was also an honorary member of the
Universities of University of Munich|Munich and
University of Vienna|Vienna.

His major works include paintings, murals, Sketch
(drawing)|sketches and other art objects, many of
which are on display in the Vienna Secession
gallery.

His work is distinguished by an elegant use of
gold backgrounds and mosaic patterns. This can be
seen in Judith I (1901), and in The Kiss (1907). 
Art historians note an eclectic range of
influences contributing to Klimt's distinct style,
including Ancient Egypt|Egyptian, Minoan
civilization|Minoan, Ancient Greece|Classical
Greek, and Byzantium|Byzantine inspirations. Klimt
was also inspired by engravings of Albrecht
DÃ¼rer, late medieval European painting, and
Ukiyo-e|Japanese Ukiyo-e.

Klimt was one of the founding members of the
Wiener Sezession (Vienna Secession) and of the
periodical Ver Sacrum. He left the movement in
1908.

He died in Vienna of pneumonia and was interred at
the Hietzing Cemetery, Vienna.

==Legacy==
Klimt's work had a clear influence on the
paintings of Egon Schiele.

In November of 2003, Klimt's Landhaus am Attersee
sold for United States dollar|$29,128,000.

Raoul Ruiz has directed a biopic, Klimt
(film)|Klimt, starring John Malkovich in the title
role which is expected to be released in late
2005.

==Selected works==

* University of Vienna Festsaal ceiling paintings
* Palais Stocklet mosaic in Brussels
* Houses in Unterach on the Attersee (1916)
http://www.adele.at/Page10343/Page10364/page10364.
html
* Beethoven frieze at the Secession Gallery in
Vienna
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/klimt/klimt.b
eethoven-frieze1.jpg
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/klimt/klimt.b
eethoven-frieze2.jpg


==See also==
*List of Austrian artists and architects
*List of Austrians

==External links==
commonscat|Gustav Klimt
* http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/klimt/ Web
Museum Klimt page
* http://www.adele.at/ The Bloch-Bauer court case
*
http://www.boheme-magazine.net/php/modules.php?nam
e=News&file=article&sid=667 An Eye on Art: Judith
I
* http://www.artofklimt.com/ Art of Klimt: A
complete online gallery and information resource

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Biography of Gustav Klimt -